The NBA has handed down a one-game suspension for the elbow Ray Allen threw at Anderson Varejao’s family jewels.
Allen, who averages 18.2 points and 3.5 rebounds, will serve his suspension when the Celtics visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. Allen will be docked more than $167,000 in salary. Kevin Garnett also will miss the game to rest his strained knee.
Varejao flung Boston’s guard to the floor, and Allen responded with a well placed elbow into the forward’s groin area. Both players jawed at each other before getting technical fouls.
“It was a dirty play,” Allen said. “He locked my arm and threw me to the ground. I wasn’t going to allow him to think he could do whatever he wanted. I’m always going to stand up for myself. It’s one thing for a team to be beating us, but they’re not going to walk all over us.”
The frizzy-haired Varejao had his own take.
“You don’t hit a man in his [groin],” he said. “He doesn’t like Brazilians or he doesn’t like my hair.”
Holy crap: Ray Allen makes $167,000 per game. Amazing.
It was a cheap shot, but given Varejao’s actions, I still think Allen’s elbow was justified. Though I don’t know that it was worth $167 K.
